Parting combine words

Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted:
Monday, March 1, 2010, 9:58 AM

INDIANAPOLIS -- I have a few moments before I board my flight back to Philly, so here are a few parting thoughts from the 2010 NFL scouting combine:

-- In talking to NFL general managers, coaches and others affiliated with the league, I get the sense that the Eagles will not trade Donovan McNabb barring an offer they simply can't refuse. Everyone seems to think the Eagles won't deal McNabb unless they get a first round pick in return. I think it may take more.

-- If the Eagles are keeping McNabb, they're surely hanging onto Kolb. They need a contingency plan if McNabb isn't back next year and they need a capable backup who knows the offense should McNabb get hurt. (Michael Vick? I don't think so.) That hasn't stopped teams from asking about Kolb. Former Eagles and new Browns GM Tom Heckert didn't do a very good job of "no commenting" a direct question about whether he has spoken to the Eagles about one their three quarterbacks. He said, "I'd rather not say." Heckert is a big Kolb fan.

-- The Eagles are likely to pick up the $1.5 million bonus that Michael Vick is due March 10. They need some leverage if they hope to get something in return for harboring a dog killer for a season.

-- The Eagles will offer tenders on most of their ten restricted free agents some time this week. A deal with fullback Leonard Weaver is imminent. Wide receiver Jason Avant, guard Nick Cole and linebacker Akeem Jordan should get relatively high tenders. I'm not so sure how much the Eagles will tender linebackers Chris Gocong and Omar Gaither, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, guard Max Jean-Gilles and punter Sav Rocca. Tight end Alex Smith apparently won't make the cut.

-- The Eagles' four unrestricted free agents -- linebackers Jeremiah Trotter and Tracy White, safety Sean Jones and defensive end Jason Babin -- will probably become "free" on Friday. I'm not sure if the Eagles can validate bringing any of the four back for next season.

-- The Eagles haven't publicly, or at least privately, expressed their interest in Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers. For one, he's still technically the property of the Panthers. But the Eagles aren't likely to let the rest of the league, and Peppers and his agent, know of their interest if they want to drive down the market for the league's top free agent. A team may come out of the chute and ink Peppers to a big deal, but I doubt it. The longer he doesn't get signed the more his asking price will drop.

-- Everyone seems to think this draft is as deep on the defensive side as it has been in years. That's good news for the Eagles, who desperately need playmakers on that side of the ball. The draft is deepest at defensive tackle, cornerback and safety. Don't be surprised to see the Eagles draft out of the first round and stock pile picks. They may believe they can get a quality safety, cornerback or defensive end later in the draft and get some future draft picks in return. They've done it before.

-- If the Eagles use their first round pick I'm not sure if it will be on a safety. Tennessee's Eric Berry and Texas' Earl Thomas are expected to be gone by pick No. 24. Southern Cal's Taylor Mays might be there, but I think he projects more as a linebacker. They may get more value from a second round pick like South Florida's Nate Allen.

-- A lot of mock drafts have the Eagles taking Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap in the first round. Mike Mayock of the NFL Network thinks Dunlap is overrated. He said he takes too many plays off and just doesn't have the consistent motor that you want from a top pick. And remember, the Eagles haven't fared too well with guys named Dunlap.